ACT V
SCENE V The palace.


 [Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord
 Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, NORFOLK with his marshal's
 staff, SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great
 standing-bowls for the christening-gifts; then
 four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the
 Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child
 richly habited in a mantle, &c., train borne by a
 Lady; then follows the Marchioness Dorset, the
 other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once
 about the stage, and Garter speaks]

Garter Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous
 life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty
 princess of England, Elizabeth!

 [Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VIII and Guard]

CRANMER [Kneeling] And to your royal grace, and the good queen,
 My noble partners, and myself, thus pray:
 All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,
 Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,
 May hourly fall upon ye!

KING HENRY VIII Thank you, good lord archbishop:
 What is her name?

CRANMER                   Elizabeth.

KING HENRY VIII Stand up, lord.

 [KING HENRY VIII kisses the child]

 With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee!
 Into whose hand I give thy life.

CRANMER Amen.

KING HENRY VIII My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:
 I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
 When she has so much English.

CRANMER Let me speak, sir,
 For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
 Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
 This royal infant--heaven still move about her!--
 Though in her cradle, yet now promises
 Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
 Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be--
 But few now living can behold that goodness--
 A pattern to all princes living with her,
 And all that shall succeed: Saba was never
 More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
 Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,
 That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,
 With all the virtues that attend the good,
 Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,
 Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
 She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;
 Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
 And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her:
 In her days every man shall eat in safety,
 Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing
 The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:
 God shall be truly known; and those about her
 From her shall read the perfect ways of honour,
 And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
 Nor shall this peace sleep with her: but as when
 The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
 Her ashes new create another heir,
 As great in admiration as herself;
 So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
 When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,
 Who from the sacred ashes of her honour
 Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
 And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
 That were the servants to this chosen infant,
 Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:
 Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
 His honour and the greatness of his name
 Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,
 And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
 To all the plains about him: our children's children
 Shall see this, and bless heaven.

KING HENRY VIII Thou speakest wonders.

CRANMER She shall be, to the happiness of England,
 An aged princess; many days shall see her,
 And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
 Would I had known no more! but she must die,
 She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,
 A most unspotted lily shall she pass
 To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.

KING HENRY VIII O lord archbishop,
 Thou hast made me now a man! never, before
 This happy child, did I get any thing:
 This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,
 That when I am in heaven I shall desire
 To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.
 I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,
 And your good brethren, I am much beholding;
 I have received much honour by your presence,
 And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:
 Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,
 She will be sick else. This day, no man think
 Has business at his house; for all shall stay:
 This little one shall make it holiday.

 [Exeunt]




 KING HENRY VIII

 EPILOGUE


 'Tis ten to one this play can never please
 All that are here: some come to take their ease,
 And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,
 We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,
 They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city
 Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'
 Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
 All the expected good we're like to hear
 For this play at this time, is only in
 The merciful construction of good women;
 For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile,
 And say 'twill do, I know, within a while
 All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap,
 If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.